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Huo Ren always felt a bit surreal whenever he saw Mei Heng.
He first became aware of him as a trainee, watching interviews about his idol to understand him better, never thinking he would meet the people from TV in real life.
Over time, after several encounters, the pop king would video call their group during holidays to chat, incredibly approachable and nothing like the legend he was supposed to be.
Now that Mei Shengyao has grown up, Mei Heng still maintains his youthful appearance, looking like a man in his twenties.
No fine lines, no dark circles, smooth and delicate skin, and dimples when he smiles.
—Which is why he still has an overwhelming number of female fans.
Huo Ren carefully touched the pure gold crown briefly before passing it to the other members.
“It’s so heavy…”
“There are gems on the edges too, the organizers really spared no expense.”
“Let me wear it too!”
Mei Heng watched them take turns wearing the crown for photos, sipping barley tea leisurely: “I think I was like this in my twenties too.”
“Eager for a result, for achievements, wanting to prove I could surpass everyone.”
“Back then, getting second or third place felt unbearably shameful.”
Huo Ren let the others put the crown back on his head, bearing the heavy weight: “You waited for ten years before this?”
“Not just that.” Mei Heng smiled: “When I was first picked by the company, I was hoping to release a song, and after releasing it, hoping it would be a hit.”
“After it was a hit, hoping for a concert, and after the concert, wanting to break out of Asia.”
Greed is never fully satisfied.
“Strictly speaking, it took me thirteen years to get the crown,” he said, looking at Mei Shengyao with a gentle smile. “After getting the award, for a long time, I didn’t know what to do next, then I focused on raising my child.”
Mei Shengyao then took the crown from Huo Ren’s hands, tentatively wearing it for a while.
Then he quickly ran to look in the mirror.
“Ah, I look so cool!!!”
Watching Mei Shengyao’s retreating back, Huo Ren unconsciously spoke his mind.
“Waiting is too agonizing.”
Mei Heng nodded with a smile: “But there’s another possibility.”
“When you stop looking back and forth on the road ahead, the end might actually get closer.”
“Set your direction, remember your goal, and move forward step by step.
Let go of all the anxious desires, dedicating all your energy and focus to the journey itself, not to the endlessly embellished fantasies.”
Huo Ren paused for a few seconds, not fully grasping the statement at first.
Mei Heng ruffled his hair.
“After I won the award, looking back at the years I didn’t win, I could find many flaws in every piece of work.”
“The overall style was chaotic, the lyrics and composition were lacking, or it was too much about pleasing the market, not enough to be a leader.”
“But all the attempts and mistakes were leading me to the finish line.”
“I am grateful for every seemingly long and tiresome year.”
They took many photos with the crown, and even pulled Mei Heng in for some shots.
The long-standing confusion and anxiety dissipated as if they had never existed.
“Remember to present our awards next year,” Mei Shengyao said earnestly as he saw Mei Heng out: “You must come.”
Mei Heng pinched his face: “That’s a lot of confidence.”
This nomination was significant, but it was a pity that Uncle Jiang didn’t come.
The next day, they were taken back to the seventeenth floor, and just as they turned the key, they heard a bark.
Huo Ren thought he had heard wrong.
The agent, holding a small white dog in front of the couch, said expressionlessly: “Call him brother.”
“Woof, woof!!”
The dog, sensing a familiar scent, instantly leapt from the agent’s arms: “Woof—”
Chi Ji exclaimed in surprise: “Xue Tuan!! It’s you!!!”
“You can keep the dog, but there are three rules,” Jiang Shu said, allowing Chi Ji to twirl with the dog, raising a finger: “First, only this one is allowed, don’t turn this into a zoo.”
He had received many odd requests over the years.
Xie Lianyun tried to set up a reptile tank for snakes, Mei Shengyao wanted to keep an American Shorthair, and Long Jia wanted to keep large dogs, three of them.
“Only this one is allowed! Don’t flood the place with animals!”
“Okay, okay,” Long Jia crouched beside the dog, tilting his head: “Has it been vaccinated?”
“All done.” Jiang Shu motioned towards the small garden at the back of the company: “Only people from the company go there for walks. If you’re keeping a dog, you’re responsible for it, it needs to be walked every day.”
Xue Tuan howled, its tail wagging furiously.
Although Crown now has a formidable opponent, their status in the country has been solidified over the years, eliminating the need for relentless work. The pace can slow down significantly.
Jiang Shu knew about Chi Ji’s illness and specifically sought out Dr. Zhai for a science manual to read thoroughly.
Depression is more like a phone frequently running out of battery, not as dramatized in TV shows with extreme behaviors.
This psychological “cold” is more about a lack of vitality rather than constant tears.
It manifests as low initiative and decreased social interaction, appearing as physical laziness.
Xue Tuan had been through several owners and wasn’t well cared for, but it’s indeed soft and white, liked by anyone who sees it.
Jiang Shu, not being particularly utilitarian, initially hoped that Chi Ji would get out of his room more and get some sunlight.
He had felt guilty knowing about Huo Ren’s anxiety.
Nowadays, every industry is under tremendous pressure, with anxiety and depression almost becoming occupational diseases, especially intensified in the highly competitive entertainment industry.
Jiang Shu had mixed feelings, fearing they would miss great opportunities in their prime years and worrying about them getting too tired and worsening their conditions.
He specifically chose a time to subtly suggest to the board that it’s okay to pause the year-end concerts this year, allowing the kids to rest more if necessary.
Huo Ren was also present at the meeting and thought for a while before saying, “Let’s see.”
“Things will get better,” he smiled: “We’ll determine the situation by June, no rush to conclude.”
After the OSC Awards, Valentine’s Day arrives.
Despite the onset of spring, this year has seen exceptionally frequent snowfalls, with snow piled up along the roads, casting a chill in the air.
The cold wind was like a blade, yet the number of fans supporting outdoors only increased.
Huo Ren’s hands were freezing during autograph sessions, and seeing the fans stomping their feet from the cold, he couldn’t help but laugh at them.
Long Jia asked the assistant to order hot chocolate with vanilla donuts for everyone on behalf of Corona, waving his hand: “Go to a sheltered place—Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Xie Lianyun heard the whole arrangement with the assistant and whispered, “Get me one too.”
“You can’t.” Long Jia blocked him and pulled Xie Lianyun back: “Stay away from the calorie bomb.”
“Come on,” Xie Lianyun tried to persuade him: “You burn a lot of calories in winter, I—”
“You ate three of the egg tarts Uncle Mei brought,” Long Jia glanced at him: “Chi Ji gave his share to you.”
Xie Lianyun pushed his glasses up: “Sharing the burden for my brother, as I should.”
Idols, unlike traditional actors, require greater exposure and more frequent interaction with fans.
This is precisely why they experience more direct encounters with honor and disgrace.
Bo Jue was still thinking about what pattern of little shawl to pair with Xue Tuan, almost bumping into the person in front.
He saw it was Xie Lianyun covered in snow, extending a hand to brush it off for him.
Xie Lianyun hurriedly cleared his glasses, drying and putting them back on: “We have enough dog food at home, no need to buy more.”
“What does this have to do with the dog,” Bo Jue glanced at him and continued wrapping his scarf tighter, moving forward: “I’m thinking of picking a new coat for Ren Ren.”
The group entered the TV station, laughing and chatting, meeting up with another girl group backstage to record a Valentine’s Day special program together.
The female host of Bai Chuan Station couldn’t move; if she did, she would play the victim and accuse Crown of oppressing ordinary people, inciting fans to cyberbully her online.
This issue had to be shelved until the controversy subsided.
Upon this incident, other major stations were well aware, understanding it as an internal power struggle at Bai Chuan Station after a management changeover, each eagerly extending olive branches to Crown for collaboration.
“Peak Star Flow,” as a light-hearted music show, had many segments designed to be easy and fun, creating a joyful atmosphere.
“Today is Valentine’s Day, but our guests are all single, which seems a bit off-theme,” the host Xiao Xiao joked: “However, understanding between members of boy and girl groups is also important, so how about we test that today?”
The audience’s ‘CP radar’ immediately activated.
Heart! Understanding!
Valentine’s Day is indeed perfect for stirring things up!
“The game rules are simple,” the male host laughed: “We’ll randomly arrange two pairs of group members to sit behind a wall. In a state of soundproof headphones, they’ll answer questions about each other.”
“The only way to confirm who is on the other side,” he said meaningfully: “Is by holding hands.”
The six had to wear blindfolds and headphones, waiting for the hosts to draw lots and choose participants.
Suddenly, Bo Jue’s blindfold was removed, and Xiao Xiao guided him to sit on one side of the prop wall.
His right hand was placed into the unknown other side.
After a while, his hand was hesitantly grasped.
The other person paused for a few seconds, then silently tightened their grip.
Their view was completely blocked by the prop wall, only able to see the hosts and the audience in front.
“So, the first question.” The male host, holding a heart-shaped cue card, smiled and winked: “Please choose your answers carefully.”
If they lost this challenge, the punishment was to jump a hundred ropes on a pressure point mat.
Bo Jue hesitated, his gaze falling back on the terrifying pressure point mat beside the host.
The other person’s palm was slightly rough, but the touch and the lines were all too familiar to him.
“Who do you think is on the other side of the wall?”
They spoke at the same instant.
“Long Jia.”
“Bo Jue.”
The author has something to say:
[The next chapter will be 45% Long Bo and 35% Ye Huo, those who dislike may skip or unsubscribe.]
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In response to a question from a comment,
The work scope of pure actors versus pure idols, their distance from fans, lifestyle, and type of pressure are completely different.
These are two distinct professions, so “Drama Bones” and “Heavenly Group” cannot be the same.
If you prefer entertainment industry novels focusing on acting, you can follow my next work “The Emperor at Fifteen,” character sketches are available on Weibo, and the young gentleman is super handsome.
“The Emperor at Fifteen”
-Synopsis A-
At ten, he was chosen as the final male lead for “Reigniting Night,” causing a national sensation.
Before leaving the set, his parents entrusted Su Chen’s hand to a rebellious youth only four years his senior.
“Call him Lu-ge, he’ll take good care of you from now on.”
“…Lu-ge.”
The youth frowned and remained silent.
He disliked children, especially the whiny, baby-voiced kind.
Yet, he quit smoking for Su Chen on the third day.
Gong traits: Pure method actor · Genius in character, rebel outside
Shou traits: Pure experiential actor · Ruthless emperor in character, soft and fluffy sheep outside
-Synopsis B-
“Others’ youth involves packing snacks for a school trip, playing basketball with classmates, and endless exams through high school.”
“But for Jiang Lu, my ten years from ten to twenty were nothing but this film set, these nine seasons of ‘Reigniting Night,’ and you.”
He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse.
“Jiang Lu, sometimes I wonder if I’ve left the role, or… if I’ve always been in character.”
The man extinguished his cigarette and grasped his hand in the dark.
Dry and cold, fingers intertwined.
“Su Chen, come into my arms.”
——————————————————————————————
Added a new piece after coming back from a midnight gossip session.
“Heavenly Group” was outlined and its main plot was determined in January this year, planning to cover Huo Ren’s 2009 to 2020, with some clues already revealed earlier by the Crown Prince.
But I truly didn’t expect so many shocking events to unfold in the real entertainment industry this year…
Every now and then, someone asks in the comments why people blindly follow trends to the point of stupidity, why celebrities still care about others using memes to insult their character, and so on.
I don’t know how to respond.
Reality has been too fantastical lately.